Joss Ackland to front BBC Radio 4 charity appeal

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association ambassador Joss Ackland is to front a BBC Radio 4 charity appeal on behalf of the Association.

Joss, who lost his wife Rosemary to MND in 2002, will narrate an appeal that aims to raise funds to support the continued development of the MND Association’s DNA bank, the most ambitious research programme ever undertaken by the charity.
The DNA bank contains thousands of samples from people with MND and their families. By using these samples scientists in this country have already made significant discoveries into the causes of MND. To advance research into MND the MND Association now want to make the DNA bank available to researchers across the world.

However to do this they need help. All money raised through the appeal will go towards maintaining the samples and making them accessible to worldwide researchers. It will take a global research effort to beat MND, and the DNA bank is a very important tool in the fight against the disease.

Speaking about why he wanted to get involved in the appeal Joss Ackland said: “My wife died of MND so I know first-hand about the chaos and tribulations it causes. MND is one of the worst diseases in the world – the sooner we get rid of it the better.

“The BBC appeal provides a good opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and money to invest in finding a cure. I hope people will donate and play their part in helping to eradicate this cruel disease.”

The appeal will be broadcast on Sunday, 8January at 07.55am and 9:26pm, and on the following Thursday, at 3.27pm. Listeners will also be able hear the appeal online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01946p9

You can give now either online via the Radio 4 website www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/appeal or by calling Freephone 0800 404 8144. Or you can write a cheque to the MND Association and send it to Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Please mark the back of your envelope MND Association. Thank you.

Contact:

• What happened to my DNA bank sample (182kb - PDF)